I was born, and still live mostly, in the United States of America… a pretty good place to live… but consider myself, first and foremost, to be a citizen of the world.

My status as a freelance human being was partly earned (a source of deep satisfaction), but was enabled mostly by opportunity (a source of deep humility and gratitude). I do my best to honor this privilege by embracing life with curiosity, honesty, courage, compassion, generosity, and gusto.

I have more questions than answers. And I struggle daily to align my behavior with my core values and to transform my rants into meaningful action.

I relish this fleeting opportunity called life… in a way that transcends my age, gender, sexual orientation, nationality, ethnicity, socio-economic status, and species. I do my level best to extend this same respect to others.

This website and companion sites are a sharing of life lessons learned, an expression of gratitude, an aspiration to become a better person, a commitment to honesty and integrity, a rebellion against ignorance, obedience, and conformity, a celebration of human dignity and potential, an embrace of the joys and perils of freedom and responsibility, and an appeal for mutual understanding and global solidarity.

I want this to be more than a self-indulgent monologue. Like a message in a bottle, I cast it into the ocean with the sincere hope of connecting with, and collaborating with, others of like heart and mind.

Like this:

I’m in southern California on the edge of the Mojave Desert at about 850 m. I’m a Federal retiree. I was with private firms for a few years, but ended up as a DoD architect, and lucky enough to spend most of my time in Japan. I am still amazed that I know someone that has visited Xinjian. What a world! GROG

My dad settled in Elk Grove after retiring from the AF. When I visited him, he took me back to Winton. I didn’t recognize the place it had developed so much. It was once surrounded and saturated by plum and peach orchards.

In Rosamond, I remember lots of scorpions, rattlesnakes, roadrunners and large bobcats. It was a bit terrifying for a youngin. Lol

Indeed. I love the internet as it enables all us crazy freelance human beings to find each other. By the way, I am glad you chose to post a pic of yourself on your avatar…. and I think I will call you Victoria from now on, not the impersonal NN. Glad you are here, Victoria! Cheers!

Hello Frank,
Sorry to write you here about your wonderful YouTube explanation on how to play octaves on the piano. You are a fabulous and dedicated pedagogue and it is heartening to see how you open eyes and hearts. I loved every second of your video and widely smiled when you expected the students to go for “world class octaves”. It’s so important that the students feel important! May I just suggest two ideas. First (sorry if this sounds self evident) but I think that the 6th component in playing octaves is to know thoroughly the notes to play, to be able to anticipate and project all the notes/intervals/keys involved in a octave passage. Of course, it’s true for every passage, but I find that it bears a special importance for octaves, as hesitation in this case does not only translate into possible mistakes but also probable momentary stiffness. The second idea is just the order of events in your video, so that your discourse can be assimilated with ease. I would go with A. thumb, B. projecting the passage (visually, aurally and kinesthetically), C. Gravity, D. Extra (added, almost invisible) movements: D1. breathing of the hand, D2. wrist mobility, D3 (which may be one of the keys to the problem) the slight arm rotation.
Again, I would like to stress how much I was feeling engaged looking at your video. You are a terrific teacher, Frank. Thank you so much!!!
Davidd.baltuch@skynet.be

Hello, David. I cannot thank you enough for your generosity of spirit and most kind words of appreciation. Such carry extra special weight coming from an artist of your caliber. And thank you so much for the added commentary regarding octaves. I resonate with all that you suggested. I wish I had a magic button that could automatically incorporate your thoughts. Again, your words fill me with joy and hope… and I wish you the very best in music and life!

Hello, again. I just read your coming out… How is retirement? I’ve been retired for a few years myself. It’s wonderful. A citizen of the world is good. I’ve spent a few years overseas and it does add perspective. GROG

Hey there, Grog, A pleasure to connect with you in a more substantive way, Thanks for checking out my more general philosophy of life… dare I call it my “religion”? I will have been retired eight years on Feb 1! Retirement is under-rated. And yes, world-wide travel has been and continues to be an essential part of my education… https://frankiesfootprints.com/ Cheers!

Hi Frank,
I guess I should start this off by just saying I appreciate your being through and through. I ran across your music lessons on YouTube and I was blown away by your quirkiness and authenticity. I feel we are kindred souls and I, more or less, just wanted to thank you wholeheartedly for bringing me out of a musical slump I was in. I play guitar, but your musical and life lessons are far reaching. I also picked up a keyboard and sounded out all of the major scales. I will be branching out to the keys now most definitely. 🙂 I feel like my musical life is about to explode with mastery and I honestly have you to thank for it. Thank you.

I cannot thank you enough for your most kind words of appreciation, Anthony. Knowing that I have been of service is music to my ears! All the best to you, my friend, in music and life. Where is home for you? Or where do your travels take you? Perhaps meeting is not so hard! Peace.

I live in Fines Creek, North Carolina. I live in the middle of a valley of the Appalachian mountains. The trails spark creativity and the people are always willing to wave 🙂 It is most definitely worth a trip if you’ve never been out towards Asheville area before. I have family in southern Florida I go visit from time to time and I want to visit friends out west towards Colorado. I want to see the entire west coast eventually. Are you close to the Appalachian mountains?
Peace and love brother

Thanks for the positive energy, Anthony. Alas I live two thousand miles away in Albuquerque… but, who knows… maybe I will get Asheville way or you will get ABQ way and we can play some music sometime. All the best to you, my friend. Peace.

It will happen eventually, brother! I’ve only been out in the desert once before, but I’m sure we will make it out there again before too awfully long. I always have a bit of wanderlust 🙂
Peace,love, and adventure be to you friend!

I have jumped off and jumped back on (the treadmill) many times over the course of a pretty enjoyable & fortunate life. I am finally pretty much off now ,but who knows what life will bring ? Whatever occurs should be just the way it will be.
I got here through your Piano-logy site. Let me say thank you for that. After 40 years of guitar I am taking up Piano again after dropping it many years ago. There is something very different about your site. I look forward to working through many of your exercises.

I only recently stumbled across your blog in the last few days. In reading more of your meditations on life I am very appreciative of the calm, direct, and authentic voice you use to communicate. Thanks for sharing your wisdom. I look forward to reading more.

Hey Jeff… Thanks for taking the time and energy to check in and for the most kind words. It gives me a deep satisfaction when people like you discover my writing and resonate with the message I am trying to share. Peace…. And may all your favorite bands stay together, too!

I just discovered your lectures on learning piano and was so surprised by the almost complete agreement of ideas in my book with your teachings, see my web site below. I plan to add a link to your piano lessons, as the one thing lacking in my book is videos, unless you have objections. My objective and life philosophy seem to parallel yours also; see my other web page at http://www.pianopractice.org/

Thanks so much for sharing Mister Chang’s book. Yes, indeed I have read it and applaud him for so generously sharing his first-hand experiences. It is so heartwarming to see how authenticity tends to attract other authenticity… I am speaking of you and Mister Chang and your presence here, of course. All the best to you in music and life, Deb!

The last person I found inspirational was Slomo, the skater on the San Diego boardwalk. I’m happy to find the same spirit in you, ranging broader afield, melded with a Rick Steves approach to getting out there in the world because it’s the best way to be. Thanks.

Thanks for checking in, TSG, and for resonating with my worldview. Don’t worry too much about being stuck… for now. It is all just part of the process. Based on the energy and attitude that you exude on your website, you WILL find a way to get off the treadmill when the time is right. Peace!

I’ve seen them almost everywhere I’ve traveled in Europe… … at airports, train stations, tourist offices, shopping malls, hotels, bars, restaurants, grocery stores, and coffee shops… Euronet ATMs. They look so very innocent, don’t they? But be advised… Every single one of these machines is an expert ripoff artist. I know… because I learned it […] […]